Contents

Understand

This district can be split in Old West, a modern neighborhood built in the first half of the twentieth century, and New West, a multicultural area built after World War II and generally off-the-beaten path to tourists. The heart of Old West is (confusingly enough) the neighborhood of Old West proper, the area closest to the city center, bordered to the south by Overtoom and the Vondelpark and in the west by the Rembrandt Park. Other areas in Old West are Westerpark, a large park bordering the center with some interesting nightlife; De Baarsjes, a neighborhood built in Amsterdam School and New Objectivity architectural styles; and Bos en Lommer, most similar to New West with some remarkable buildings.

New West has often dominated the headlines for social and ethnic tensions, crime, urban decay. Most infamous is Slotervaart, bordering Old West to the east; other districts are Geuzenveld/Slotermeer and Osdorp. A special district is the vast area of Westpoort, a harbor occupying a large area to the north of Amsterdam West, but not of much interest to most visitors.

Get in

See

Windmills

Scattered over the district are five windmills. Only one is open to the public (but all look good on pictures).

De 1100 roe, Herman Bonpad 6. This mill was built around 1674 at the Haarlemmerweg, near the 1200 roe. It was taken apart in 1962 and rebuilt at the current location in 1965. This mill is meant to pump water from the polder to the surrounding canal.

De 1200 roe, Haarlemmerweg 701. Built in 1632 to pump water out of the polder.

De Bloem, Haarlemmerweg 465. Here since 1878, but it's been moved to a different location at least three times. It's a corn mill.

De Otter, Gillis van Ledenberchstraat 78. A restored and functioning sawmill, built in 1631, opposite Buyskade, west of the Jordaan.

Molen van Sloten, Akersluis 10. Open 10:00-17:00. Newly built in 1990 with some old elements. The only mill in Amsterdam open for public visits.

Parks

Rembrandtpark. Not too far west of the Vondelpark, but much quieter and larger in size.

Westerpark, [1]. Newly expanded park, at the western edge of the centre, with cultural activities in a former gas factory. Access from Haarlemmerweg.

Beaches

Strand West (take bus 22 or 48 to 'Spaaarndammerstraat')

Do

Ken Tui Massage, Da Costastraat 6-1 (Just off the De Clercstraat near the center), ☎+31-6-15053174, [2]. Finish the day giving your body and feet a rest and receive a quality massage.

Buy

The Ten Kate markt is a day market on the Ten Kate straat, open Monday - Saturday, 9:00-18:00. It's crossed by shopping street Kinkerstraat.

Eat

Drink

Nightclubs

Club 8, Admiraal de Ruijterweg 56b. A large alternative place with lots of art on its walls. There's ping pong, a very local and fairly young crowd.

Flex Bar, Pazzanistraat 1 (Tram: Van Limburg Stirumstraat, in the Westerpark), ☎+31 20 486 21 23‎, [4]. often until 05:00. Flex Bar is known for its innovative musical program and their openminded approach towards music as well as their public. Expect electro, techno, house, dubstep, hiphop, indie, funk and soul.